Baby On Board – Commuting with a bump!

As a worker in London who commutes from Essex every day, I get to suffer the daily chore of fighting for a seat, train delays and other (sometimes smelly!) commuters. On the whole, I don’t have a bad journey – I get on at the beginning of the line so always have a seat, I don’t have to get the tube, and my fellow commuters are mostly nice people! So I wasn’t too worried about travelling whilst pregnant.

However, I did get myself a baby on board badge. I liked to wear this before I was showing, and when I was travelling in the winter and had a big coat on that hid my bump. I know some people think that this is attention seeking, and pregnant women shouldn’t have any special treatment, and I agree on principle. Just because I’m pregnant, I don’t expect special treatment, however, it is hard work being pregnant. When you’re suffering from morning (or all-day) sickness, the last thing you want to do is stand up for an hour. What you actually want to do is sit in the corner somewhere hugging your seat and muching on breadsticks, trying not to be sick on the passenger sitting next to you (or was that just me?!) Likewise, when you’ve been at work all day, you really really need that seat at the end of the day to get home in some relative comfort.

As I said before, I was pretty lucky on my journey and pretty much always managed to get a seat, unless there were delays. I’m not confrontational, so I wouldn’t ask someone to give up a seat if there were none free – however, I might have ended up on your lap from fainting if you didn’t! So I liked to have the badge, as people tended to spot it and then offer a seat if I didn’t have one. They also would let me on the train first, so I could find a seat easily. I also hoped it would stop people from pushing, as often happens during train delays when there are limited seats!

I only wore the badge when I had my coat on, or before the bump was obvious – then I hoped people could tell I was pregnant and just be nice!!

One thing that Abellio Greater Anglia do to help pregnant women who have a season ticket, is offer a seat in First Class when they are travelling in the last 8 weeks of their pregnancy if they aren’t able to find a seat in “cattle class”. You just have to apply for a ticket (details on their website). I didn’t actually take up this offer, as I said before I always managed to get a seat (and never got round to applying for it!). But it’s a great idea for those travelling on busier trains.

As I got further on in my pregnancy, the travelling did get harder, mainly because of the length of time I was sat down for without being able to move – it was so uncomfortable! I was usually alright if I could stretch my legs out and slump down a little in my seat, but if I had to sit upright with people opposite and next to me, the hour’s journey would draaaaaag! The worst part of my journey was definitely the mile and a half walk to the station from my house. It was fine to begin with, during winter and when I was still slim! But by my last day at work, I was 3 stone heavier and we were having a heatwave. I used to be able to walk it in 17 minutes – by the end of my pregnancy it took me 34 minutes!! And did not help my poor swollen feet and ankles L

Overall I didn’t have much to complain about on my commute. However I will say, if you ever see a pregnant lady, please please let her sit down – she’s not being lazy or thinking she’s someone who deserves special treatment, she is doing her best to grow a human being and a little consideration is always appreciated.

For me the purpose of the badge was to stop the pushing and shoving, as you mentioned. I’m not ashamed to admit that I did tell a few people off for pushing me whilst pregnant, but then I did have to deal with the tube & got on at a horrendously busy Stratford on the way home!! Oh and our ‘metro service’ doesn’t have a first class section, so I was always so grateful that I got on only two stops down the line!! I always offered my seat to a pregnant lady before I was pregnant but will make even more of an effort now!! Xxx

The Face Behind The Blog

Hello, I'm Abi and I am the face behind the blog, Something About Baby. This is my space where I write all about being mum to Alfie, who was born in July 2015, and wife to Craig. Check out my About Me section to find out more.